Volume of ischemic lesion.

<p>The volume of acute ischemic changes was measured from 3 mm thick brain sections encompassing the MCA territory. Data indicate a reduction of lesion volume following treatment with BR38 full dose combined with rt-PA and ultrasound. *<i>p</i> = 0.044.</p

Micro-CT scan for vascular volume.

<p>Representative scans of the 3 mm slice encompassing the MCA territory used for micro-CT analysis from a control (saline treated) (panel A), a BR38 full dose (panel B) and a SonoVue full dose treated rat (panel C). Cortical and striatal regions of interest (ROI) for all animals were analyzed in each hemisphere to quantify vascular volume. Dashed line boxes in panel A have been drawn to demonstrate the ROI chosen for this animal. These scans demonstrate reduced vascular volume in both cortical and striatal regions of the ipsilateral hemisphere of the control rat, while demonstrating normal microvascular perfusion after BR38 or SonoVue microbubble-enhanced sonothrombolysis. Scale bar in each image = 800 μm.</p

Nano-CT scan of cortex.

<p>Nano-CT images illustrating the “no-reflow phenomenon” in an untreated animal after the withdrawal of the MCA filament (A), and reperfusion of the microvasculature after BR38 (full dose) sonothrombolysis. Scale bar in each image = 100 μm</p

Experimental timeline.

<p>Microbubble enhanced sonothrombolysis was tested in a model of 90 minute MCA occlusion. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by laser doppler flowmetry to confirm successful occlusion (post-occlusion). Randomization to treatment group occurred post-recanalization and immediately pre-treatment onset. rt-PA was administered every 5 minutes (dashed lines) in all treatment animals. Microbubbles (SonoVue or BR38) were administered at 15 minute intervals (▼). Control and rt-PA treatment groups received equal volumes of saline for rt-PA and microbubbles. Continuous ultrasound was applied for 60 minutes in conjunction with rt-PA and microbubble infusion.</p

Vascular volume of the ipsilateral hemisphere.

<p>Total vascular volumes (VV) of the ipsilateral hemisphere quantified from micro-CT scans are presented as a percentage of the vascular volume of the contralateral (left) hemisphere. Control and rt-PA ipsilateral total VV were significantly reduced from contralateral total VV. * <i>p</i><0.05.</p